Photo Blog
Research
My extensive research for this tip included an invaluable visit to the Safari at Chessington World of adventure!
Nairobi Airport 0600
Nothing too shabby here. No rush of hot air as we got off the plane. The one jumper I came with is gonna get some use!
Accommodation
The residential block of the Holly Order of St Josephs which will be our home for a week.
Net Practice
About to experience my first night under a mosquito net. These cost about a fiver each and can protect a child for five years.
Briefing
Our first informal briefing at a smart beachside hotel. For the record, the sisters did imbibe but we voted to let them off thier contribution to the kitty.
Techno Nun
Our hostess, Sister Veronica, has two mobiles and a laptop and drives thorough Mombassa like Lewis Hamilton. Julie Andrews eat your heart out.
Back to source
Internet cafe in Mombassa. I checked with them all and none of them had ‘inherited £10m and needed a bank account to process it through’!
CSI
Customer Satisfation Index Kenya style. BTW – they did so we did. Ding Dong
Luggage On The Roof
A sure sign we are in Africa. Who remembers Daktari?
Accommodation
Private ensuite room with balcony. I stayed in a Travelodge in Newcastle last week that was not up to this standard.
Our Neighbourhood
These kids chasing a ball around our compound look far to healthy. Later discovered that the compound incorporates a small fee paying school for no HIV kids.
Stats
Over 100 clients are seen here each day. Women, children and men are all given free medication and vital counselling on how to deal with being HIV+ (as we in the sector describe it!)
ABCD
As a Catholic mission the Sisters face a number of challenges around educating clients about the transmission of HIV. Whilst the clinic itself does not distribute condoms they are able to refer clients to sources of free supplies.
Once upon a time
Teachers weave lessons about the importance of diligently taking medication into stories for the children.
Language School
Our Swahili lesson was going well until I asked for a translation of ‘how much would it cost to employ you to rebuild that house on my behalf.?’
Clinic
The team we are working with run this clinic as well as an outreach programme. Client participation and empowerment are key to their work.
The Build Site
Not sure who was more worried as we arrived on site, us or the locals.
Zawadi’s House
Even the most audacious estate agent would be pushed to see the ‘potential’ here.
The Plan
The plan is to knock down half the house and replace it with a larger space with two rooms. Oh, and they will have to live there whist we do it.
Phase 2
Put the uprights in place. My vote was to demolish the old part of the house first. Overruled.
Phase 3
Use a machete to split bamboo pole in half and lash them to the uprights. Oh for a pack of cable ties!
Demolition
OK – so now let’s demolish the old bit and chuck it over the new bit.
New for old
Progress at the site was seriously hampered by the lack of good tools so we headed for the shops. This lot came to about the price of Sunday lunch for four at our local pub at home and increased productivity ten found. Meat and two veg anyone?
Education
As Zawadi’s friends help us carry the sand across the valley we are reminded that the education proces here is a two way street. Just for the record, I tried it and it hurt like hell!
Participatory Development
Val, our team leader, is helped up the hill with yet another bucket of sand by our ‘client’
Catering Team
At the peak there were nearly 40 people working on the project. The women from the village organised a mass catering programme. They produced vast tubs of ‘Seema’ a corn based semolina type food served with meat and cabbage that filled you up quicker then a Big Mac Double Cheese Burger with extra fries.
Zawadi’s Crew
Zawadi and some of the community leaders that nominated her for participation in the programme
Quiet contemplation
Not everything went smoothly. Sister catches a moment of reflection having just defused another potential crisis.
Dignity
Zawadi’s uncle and guardian remained a calm dignified presence throughout the build, including the day when his boss threatened to fire him if he took a day off work.
Carry on and keep calm
Zawadi’s aunt and her cousins do their best to carry on as normal in spite of the fact that we have demolished half of their house to make way for the new one. Worth remembering this next time we moan about ‘having the builder in’
Water Course
In spite of my ‘minor cultural incident’ we did mange to get the water flowing across the valley – until the electricity running the pumps that feed the tank that connected to the tap went off. In an attempt to win back some credibility with my team I carry some five litre containers of water … Continue reading
Water Project
No shortage of volunteers to support Biggs’ Great Water Project! They really, really really did insist on carrying the materials. Honest.
Dirty Habits
Any thoughts that church may not be fully engaged in the nitty gritty realties facing the community were rapidly dispelled as Sister Veronica put on a fabulous ‘mudding’ display.
Mudding
The ‘mudding’ begins as evidence emerges that ‘builder’s bum’ is not exclusively a western issue.
Great Leap Forward
Just when we thought we were getting nowhere the roof was on and the walls were well on the way to being fully muddied.
Noon Day Sun
Check out the looks on the faces of the local team as they speculate on the arrival of the ‘Mad Dogs’ to complete the scene.
Job Done
Well, almost. A small group returned the following day to add the finishing touches.
Donations
Sister Veronica tells me she can build another house for one of her orphans if we can raise $2,000. If you would like to make an anonymous donation to support the people we are working with, please CLICK HERE Thank you